· Golden Memories Safaris
Italian travellers are among the visitors who now have a direct flight to northern Tanzania, which makes a safari easier to plan from Milan than it has been for years. This guide answers the practical questions an Italian traveller asks: how to get here, what documents you need, which months suit your holidays, how long to stay and what it costs. Our website is also available in Italian (Italiano).
Flying from Italy to Tanzania
The easiest option for 2026 was the seasonal service operated by Neos from Milan Malpensa to Kilimanjaro International Airport, which continues to Zanzibar. According to published schedule reports, the weekly flight left Malpensa on Tuesdays in the evening and arrived early the next morning, with the rotation Milan, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar and back to Milan, operating from 14 July to 20 October 2026. See the reports in Aeroroutes and The Citizen.
Outside the seasonal service, most Italian travellers connect through a European or Gulf hub, and some arrive in Nairobi, Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar and continue by a domestic flight. Kilimanjaro International Airport lies between Arusha and Moshi, so it is the most convenient airport for the northern circuit and for Kilimanjaro. If you arrive in Zanzibar, you can fly to the Serengeti or Mikumi for a short safari; see our fly-in safari guide.
Tanzania is two hours ahead of Italy in winter and one hour ahead in summer, so there is little jet lag.
Kilimanjaro International Airport lies close to Moshi and Arusha.
Documents: passport, visa and insurance
Passport
Italian travel advice generally asks for a passport valid for at least six months from the date of arrival and with at least one blank page.
Visa
Most visitors, including Italian citizens, need a visa. The standard route is the online application on the official Tanzania Immigration eVisa portal. The portal shows the current fee for your nationality. Apply a couple of weeks before you travel, and use only the official portal, because unofficial websites add service charges. Our visa and entry requirements guide gives more detail.
Mandatory travel insurance
Tanzania has announced a mandatory inbound travel insurance policy for foreign visitors. Reports put the cost at USD 44 for adults and the start date at 1 October 2026 for mainland arrivals, with different details for Zanzibar, so check the official Tanzanian sources before you buy. This is separate from the cover you should hold for medical expenses, evacuation and cancellation. See our explainer on mandatory travel insurance in Tanzania and the safari insurance checklist.
Health
Speak to your local health service (ASL) or a travel clinic at least six weeks before you go about vaccinations and malaria prevention. Yellow fever rules depend on the countries you travel through, so check the current requirements and carry your certificate if you need one. Our health guide explains the common questions.
Tanzania visa and entry requirements
Mandatory travel insurance explained
When to go: matching Tanzania to Italian holidays
July and August (summer holidays, Ferragosto)
What it is like in Tanzania: Dry season. The Mara River crossings in the northern Serengeti usually run from July to October. Peak prices and high demand. What to plan: Book early. Consider a fly-in migration safari to reduce driving.
Christmas and New Year
What it is like in Tanzania: Green season begins. Warm, with some rain. Herds are moving to the southern plains, and Zanzibar is hot. What to plan: A safari plus beach holiday works well. See safari and Zanzibar beach itineraries.
January to March
What it is like in Tanzania: Calving season around Ndutu in the south. What to plan: See our 6 day calving safari for 2027.
Easter and spring
What it is like in Tanzania: Long rains: lush and quiet, with lower prices, but the weather is changeable and some camps close. What to plan: A good time for travellers who want fewer people and accept rain.
Our best time to visit Tanzania guide gives a month-by-month view.
July and August are peak months for Italian holidays.
Best time to visit Tanzania, month by month
The Great Migration, month by month
How long do you need?
From Italy, we suggest at least seven days on the ground for a first safari, which allows a day at each end for flights and rest. A week can be shaped as five days of safari and two on Zanzibar. If you want to climb Kilimanjaro, plan at least a week for the climb alone and add days for a safari afterwards. For a longer break, our 10 day Tanzania and Zanzibar itinerary is a good model. Our Tanzania safari guide explains how to choose the parks.
Tanzania and Zanzibar 10 day itinerary
Prices and packages
Our prices are published in US dollars per person. They are “from” prices as shown on our website on 22 October 2026 and depend on dates, group size and accommodation:
Flights from Italy are not included in our package prices. See the Tanzania safari cost guide for what is and is not included, and browse all safari packages.
- 3 Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro Joining Safari
- 5 Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro Classic Mid Range Safari
- 7 Day Ndutu & Zanzibar Honeymoon Safari 2026–2027
- 7-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Adventure via Lemosho Route
What a first week could look like
If your flight lands in the morning, we plan a gentle first day. Your guide meets you at the airport and takes you to Arusha, where you can rest before the safari starts. Day trips near Arusha and Moshi, such as Materuni Waterfalls or Lake Duluti, suit an extra day if you arrive early.
The next four or five days are the safari. A common pattern is Tarangire for elephants, then the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, which is the shape of our 5 day safari and 7 day safari. A final stretch on Zanzibar suits travellers who fly home from the island. If you want a longer holiday, add a Kilimanjaro climb or a second park.
Many guests finish with a few days on Zanzibar.
Language and how we work with you
Our English-speaking guides lead our safaris. If you would like an Italian-speaking guide, tell us when you enquire and we will say plainly what we can arrange. The whole website is available in Italian, including the packages and travel guides, so you can plan in your own language and send your questions in Italian or English.
A simple plan to start with
- Decide your dates around your holidays and the wildlife you want to see.
- Check your passport and apply for the visa on the official portal.
- Choose your flights. If you want the direct service from Milan, check the airline’s schedule first.
- Send us your dates, group size and budget. We reply with a suggested route and a price.
- Arrange your travel insurance and vaccinations, and pack with the help of our packing list.
A planning timeline for Italian travellers
- Six to twelve months before: choose the month, the style and the budget. July to October and the Christmas weeks book first.
- Four to six months before: confirm the itinerary and pay the deposit. Check flights, including the direct Milan service if it runs on your dates.
- Three months before: check your passport, book your vaccinations and malaria advice and look at travel insurance.
- Six weeks before: apply for the visa on the official portal and arrange the mandatory inbound travel insurance if it applies to you.
- Two weeks before: confirm the arrival details, pack in soft bags and download your documents to your phone.
How to choose a Tanzania safari company
Money, phones and plugs
Our package prices are in US dollars. Take a card as well as some cash, and read money and tipping in Tanzania for what to pay your guide and camp staff. Tanzania uses 230 volt electricity, so Italian appliances work, but you will need a plug adapter: check which plug types your camps and lodges use before you travel. Mobile coverage is good in towns and patchy in the parks, so tell your family where you will be.
Combining a safari with Kilimanjaro or Zanzibar
Many Italian travellers add a mountain or a beach to the safari. If you plan to climb, read the Kilimanjaro routes compared and the guide to altitude sickness, and look at the Kilimanjaro climbing tours and the shorter Mount Meru trek. If you prefer the sea, our Zanzibar guide, the best beaches in Zanzibar and safaris from Zanzibar show how to do both.
Mistakes to avoid when you book from abroad
- Booking flights before the safari dates are confirmed.
- Leaving the visa and the insurance to the last week.
- Choosing a safari by price alone, without comparing what is included.
- Scheduling an international flight on the same day as a bush flight.
- Packing in hard suitcases when small aircraft need soft bags.
Common questions about a Tanzania safari from Italy
Is there a direct flight from Italy to Tanzania?
In the summer of 2026 there was a weekly seasonal service from Milan Malpensa to Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar. Check the airline for the current schedule.
Do Italian citizens need a visa for Tanzania?
Most visitors do. Apply online on the official portal and check the fee and the rules before you travel.
What is the best month for an Italian family?
The school holidays in July, August and December are the busiest. For wildlife, July to October is the dry season with river crossings, and January to March is the calving season. See our family safaris.
Can I combine a safari with Zanzibar?
Yes. It is a very popular combination, and if you fly into Zanzibar you can add a short fly-in safari. See safaris from Zanzibar.
Can I climb Kilimanjaro on the same trip?
Yes. See our Kilimanjaro climbing tours and the guide to the best Kilimanjaro route.
Plan your trip from Italy with a local team
Write to us in English with your dates and your ideas. We reply with a suggested route and a clear price.
- 3 Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro Joining Safari
- 5 Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro Classic Mid Range Safari
- 7 Day Ndutu & Zanzibar Honeymoon Safari 2026–2027
Keep planning your Tanzania trip
These guides cover the next questions most travellers ask.
Tanzania visa and entry requirements
Tanzania travel insurance checklist
Best time to visit Tanzania, month by month
Best Tanzania safari itinerary for first timers
Tanzania and Zanzibar 10 day itinerary
More guides and pages for this trip
Sources and further reading
Fees, schedules and rules change, so check the official sources below before you book or travel.